New Orleans haunted patio is stirring up scares & stares

NEW ORLEANS, LA (WGNO) — Skeletons, ghouls, bats and mice are all stirring up scares and stares at Rick Reardon's house on Magazine and 4th streets.

"Your Europeans and your Aussies just go crazy. They don't typically see anything like this anywhere," Reardon said.

For six years, Reardon's been decorate his patio porch every single holiday---Mardi Gras, Valentine's Day, Christmas, etc.

He said, Halloween is his favorite. His "Three Bone Band" is always a fixture on his patio.

"It's great to see how excited the kids get. You can't put a value on a child's smile," he said.

What makes his haunted house stand-out is that every year he keeps the frights fresh.

"It's a lot of fun. Every year it's always a different theme."

One of his favorite additions this year is a bloody torso with food coloring and vegetable oil to make it look as real as can be.

"It's here for everyone's enjoyment. There's always a few that sai that I'm evil, but I don't know what's evil up here. Everyone's got their own opinion," he said.

You'd think putting on a porch production would cost a lot of money. He said, it isn't so bad because he's been collecting the electronic creatures and decorations over a period of time. What costs the most are batteries and electricity.

He turns on all the electronics at dusk and turns them off by 9 p.m.

Reardon doesn't work in movies or the arts. He just wants to give the neighborhood something to enjoy. On Halloween night he even hides somewhere on the porch to surprise trick-or-treaters.

"It'll be something different this year. I'll get you this year. Even worse than last year. Just watch me," he said.